RNZI: Tongan authorities say fresh volcanic activity at the Home Reef volcano, near the northern islands of Vava’u, is creating a steam cloud two kilometres high. Government geologist Rennie Vaiomounga says a local pilot first reported the activity on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Vaiomounga says that report has since been confirmed by a boat in the…
THE norm under the cultural pretext in our societies that domestic violence is a private business has gone. Domestic violence and violence against women and children are now criminal offences. Pioni Boso of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family affairs highlighted this during a gender equality forum last month. The aim of the…
The present unsustainable harvesting of the country’s forest resources and the high rate of illegal logging activities necessitate a timely decision by the DCC Government to impose a moratorium on new registration and applications for logging business activities in Solomon Islands. A statement issued through the Government Communication Unit said, the Cabinet has reached this…
Lack of available information regarding rural investments is a hindrance to assessing development results and planning of future investments at the sub-national levels. This was the finding of a recent World Bank report undertaken throughout the country that aimed to assist policy makers, program sponsors and implementers to make informed decisions. The study which looks…
A robust set of accountability and transparency measures for all funding programs including the Rural Constituency Livelihood Fund(RCLF) and all Constituency Development Funds(CDFs) is highly needed. The lack of information and accountability in all forms of funding programs has stokes concern and criticism nationwide of waste, fraud and corruption in the manner in which funds…
Temotu Provincial Government (TPG) passes its supplementary budget 2014/2015 last month. Temotu premier Buddley Soakifono told this paper in an interview from Lata. He said, the budget stands at $1,020,000.00.Top of their agenda meeting last month was to pass the provincial supplementary budget. The recurrent expenditure are office of the premier, $140,000.00, provincial assembly $49,700.00,…
People of Vanikoro on the outer Island of Temotu Province will soon have a new airport thanks to Solomon Island Government (SIG) for recognising the transportation needs of this remote island. An Asian logging company which is currently operating on Vanikoro has been clearing the land for the proposed airport awaiting approval from the Civil…
A nine-days training of trainers (TOT) workshop on Channels of Hope for Gender (CoHG) was conducted from February 2-10 at Mendana Hotel conference room. The workshop attended by Faith and community leaders as well as World Vision’s Gender project staff from four countries namely Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Solomon Islands aims to…
The Sirubai education center of North East Vella La Vella Island, Western Province has received book donations from an Australian Ecologist Robyn James in Brisbane Australia last week. This came after Director and founder of Sirubai Voko tribe association Henry Kaniki travelled to Brisbane to attend a workshop. Mr Kaniki said, an ecologist from Australia…
THREE communities in Isabel and Malaita provinces will soon have better water supply and sanitation following the signing of their grant contract with Japanese Embassy yesterday. The communities are Koghe, Kolofe and Kwaibala. Under the grant contract Koghe community received SBD$555,000 while Kolofe and Kwaibala community received USD$65,405.00. The grant contract was signed by Japan…